Railways withdraws emergency cashless treatment scheme

Last Updated12/12/2023

The Indian Railways has withdrawn the Cashless Treatment Scheme in Emergency (CTSE).
It was a medical facility which benefitted a few lakh serving and retired employees and their dependent family members across the country.

A pilot project for providing cashless treatment during emergencies in private Railway-empanelled hospitals was initially launched in metro cities in 2016.
It covered the serving and retired employees and their dependent family members to avail treatment in private hospitals during emergencies.
The scheme provided necessary treatment in emergencies and raised the bill directly to the Railways.

The Railway Board reviewed the implementation of the scheme and after a careful deliberation decided to withdraw the CTSE with immediate effect.
It was also decided that no refund would be issued to CTSE-card holder for the amount that was deposited for subscription to the scheme.
It was felt that a large number of retired beneficiaries lived in the newly-developed suburbs of various cities across India.
These suburbs were often far away from the established railway health institutions.
In this scenario, precious time was lost in the travel to the Railway hospitals in case of emergency.
There was no need for any referral from the local railway medical authorities.
The treatment to serving and retired employees and their dependent family members was still available but with the reference of the railway medical officer